This is the most popular of all chicken breast recipes that I’ve ever published. It’s a JUICY Oven Baked Chicken Breast sprinkled with a magic simple seasoning, baked until caramelised. It’s simple, fast and incredibly tasty! This is a reader-favourite alongside Honey Garlic Chicken, this epic Parmesan Crusted Chicken and crispy Garlic Chicken.
This is a reader-favourite recipe included by popular demand in my debut cookbook “Dinner”!
A JUICY Baked Chicken Breast!
Though I always stand firm that brown meat is better than white – more flavour, more juiciness – lean chicken breast is a regular in my shopping trolley, week after week.
So today, I’m sharing my recipe for how I make Oven Baked Chicken Breast.
We can never have too many really great quick chicken breast recipes!
As simple as it sounds, if you whack a seasoned breast in the oven without thought, the chances are you’ll be chewing your way through dry chicken, furiously squirting over copious amounts of ketchup to try to salvage it.
It doesn’t need to be that way. Enter – a fabulous simple, magic chicken seasoning for baked chicken breast:
The Chicken Breast Seasoning
Made with just brown sugar, paprika, oregano, garlic powder, salt and pepper, the secret ingredient in this is brown sugar:
Makes more seasoning, so you can coat the breast thoroughly and give it a beautiful crust without overpowering it with lots of spices that need longer to cook than chicken breast does; and
Makes it juicy – the chicken sweat while it bakes, so you end up with wetness that makes the chicken more juicy than the usual baked chicken breast.
Yes it adds sweetness but don’t worry, this baked chicken breast is still savoury!
How long to cook chicken breast
A medium chicken breast will take 18 – 20 minutes to bake at 220C / 425F. Cooking it hard and fast at a high temperature is the secret to gorgeous caramelisation and ultra juicy chicken inside. No dried out breast around here!!
The seasoning for this chicken is actually a really great indicator for when the chicken is cooked to perfection. Basically, once the surface of the chicken is caramelised, it’s cooked to perfection inside so get it out of the oven!
My last tip for a truly great Baked Chicken Breast is to pound it to even thickness, either with a rolling pin, meat mallet or even with your fist (very therapeutic). This has the double effect of even cooking as well as tenderising the meat.
The secret behind this baked chicken is the simple, magic seasoning
Most popular of all chicken breast recipes!
This Juicy Oven Baked Chicken Breast is the single most popular of all chicken breast recipes I’ve ever shared.
But don’t believe me. Have a browse below of what others have to say!
Try serving this with a side of Garlic Butter Rice with Kale, pictured in post. One pot carb + veg side, with kale made delicious! Otherwise, try a flavoured Rice Side like Tomato Basil Rice or Mushroom Rice.
If you’re in the mood for potatoes, try this Lemon Potato Salad, a classic creamy Potato Salad or a lighter No-Mayo Red Potato Salad with Charred Corn and Bacon.
And for something fresh, Spring Salad or Creamy Cucumber Salad with Lemon Yogurt Dressing would go with the chicken beautifully. Else, simply drizzle steamed greens or a garden salad with Italian Dressing, Balsamic or French Vinaigrette. – Nagi x
More chicken breast recipes readers love!
Honey Garlic Chicken Breast – Super easy, super delicious!
Crispy Parmesan Crusted Chicken Breast – No breadcrumbs needed!
Chicken Kiev – A retro classic! Crumbed and fried chicken breast stuffed with oozing garlic butter …
Browse all chicken recipes
Baked Chicken Breast recipe
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
This recipe features in my debut cookbook Dinner. The book is mostly new recipes, but this is a reader favourite included by popular demand!
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Oven Baked Chicken Breast
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts , 150 – 180g / 5 – 6 oz each (Note 1)
- 2 tsp olive oil
Seasoning:
- 1 1/2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp dried oregano or thyme , or other herb of choice
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp each salt and pepper
Garnish, optional:
- Finely chopped parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F/220°C (200°C fan).
- Pound chicken to 1.5cm / 0.6″ at the thickest part – using a rolling pin, meat mallet or even your fist (key tip for even cooking + tender chicken).
- Mix Seasoning.
- Line tray with foil and baking / parchment paper. Place chicken upside down on tray. Drizzle chicken with about 1 tsp oil. Rub over with fingers. Sprinkle with Seasoning.
- Flip chicken. Drizzle with 1 tsp oil, rub with fingers, sprinkle with Seasoning, covering as much of the surface area as you can.
- Bake 18 minutes, or until surface is golden per photos and video, or internal temperature is 165°F/75°C using a meat thermometer.
- Remove from oven and immediately transfer chicken to serving plates.
- Wait 3 – 5 minutes before serving, garnished with freshly chopped parsley if desired. Pictured with a side of Garlic Butter Rice with Kale.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Recipe originally published March 2018. Updated for housekeeping matters in March 2019, no change to recipe.
* The story and details of the Handcrafted Japanese Knife giveaway that originally accompanied this recipe when published was moved into a separate post because the Giveaway has finished.
LIFE OF DOZER
It’s just hanging there, taunting him. He sniffs at it, suspiciously….
Made this tonight as is maybe a few adjustment to the seasoning, but it came out perfect. This will be my go to for baking chicken breast more easily.
Nov 8,2025
This is the 2nd time I’ve made this chicken. This time I cooked it in the air fryer for around 10mins. It’s easy, quick and flavourful. Delicious, cold on sandwiches they next day too!
Quick+ easy
Thank you 😊
Loved this recipe. Tasty and moist – thank you for sharing.
I made it as is and found with 17 minutes at 200° fan forced it was a tad dry. Tried it again the next day for only 7 minutes at 220° and it was perfect!!
Hi Nagi, I’ve made a few of your recipes that have been received with the type of feedback a restaurant would be super happy with! From your recipes for lamb, to pork and seafood…some complex and others not so much, they’ve all been brilliant. The common factor is not just the taste but how they’ve all been so easy to prepare and follow! However, this recipe is very special to me because it has essentially saved my relationship with my very food-picky teenage son and for that, I will forever be grateful to you, your team and especially Dozer 🐾 From a thankful Dad, my humble blessings 💜
Been a long time since I found an exciting BCB recipe and this one is a BANGER! I doubled down on the seasoning because I had 4 huge breasts that I split and pounded. Opted for oregano for the herb. My 4 year old twins LOVED it too – so a bonus. This one is going in my regular menu!!! Bravo!!!! I am thinking a sauce could be made with all the yummy juice that’s left in the pan for rice… can’t wait to expand on this already magical recipe. Bravo Nagi!
The chicken was great, easy to follow recipe. The thing I was most blown away by was the tenderness and moistness of the chicken!
Made this dish tonight with rice and salad. Huge hit with my husband and toddler. And he asked me to put it in my dinner rotation. Thank you so much for this quick and easy recipe!!
Just made this recipe tonight. Googled best chicken breast recipes and this was in the top 3 with only 5 star reviews! I substituted marjoram as I’m not a fan of oregano. It turned out amazing! Juicy, tender, tasty as opposed to my usual tough/overcooked baked chicken. Thank you! Will definitely be making it again.
I used this recipe two nights in a row. First on chicken breast and it was really good. Last night I used it on chicken thighs and my husband raved about it the entire time he was eating. Lol. Really good. 5 🌟
Incredible easy and so so delicious! We had it with oven baked cauliflower rice and guacamole. Holy moly it was superb. It will be on rotation in our household. Thanks Nagi!
So tasty! The brown sugar really is the secret
My forever go-to chicken recipe. So fast to make. It’s either served with mash and veggies or sliced for the main in rice bowls or salads. Recipe needs no tweaking. Perfect as is.
This is the best chicken breast recipe everrrr … moist and succulent.
Now I am confident in gaining my protein intake flavourful and yummm, without choking on the dry chicken. Breast …
I even cooked in a sandwich press for 7 minutes … delish!!
Thank you once again Nagi!! You are the Legend!!
Made this last night, exactly as written. So delicious and easy, this will be my go to for baked chicken. Thanks so much 🙂
Thank you for this easy but delicious recepi, it was on our dinner table last night and everybody loved it. Please give Dozer a massive cuddle from all of us x
Easy quick and tasty chicken Delicious and moist
Tender, juicey, flavorful, and easy.
Perfect for a busy life
We love this recipe! We’ve used it several times since we found it We make chicken sandwiches with it also with Colby or pepper jack cheese and brioche buns ! Amazing every time !